Palin to Obama: Hit reset button with Israel

WASHINGTON (JTA) — Sarah Palin called on the Obama administration to hit the reset button with Israel.

In a statement critical of the Obama administration’s outreach to countries with which the United States has strained relations, the former Republican vice presidential candidate and Alaska governor wrote, “In the midst of all this embracing of enemies, where does the Obama Administration choose to escalate a minor incident into a major diplomatic confrontation? With Iran, Cuba, Sudan, North Korea or Burma? No. With our treasured ally, Israel.”

Palin criticized Obama for making unilateral demands of Israel while not requiring Arab leaders to make equally demanding concessions for the sake of peace.

“Vice President Biden was actually right when he said last week, before the construction announcement, that ‘one necessary precondition for progress is that the rest of the world knows … there is absolutely no space between the United States and Israel when it comes to security,’ " she said. "Right now, thanks to the Obama Administration, there is a chasm. It’s time for President Obama to push the reset button on our relations with our ally Israel.”

Palin is one of many Republican leaders critical of the Obama administration’s tough talk with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu following last week’s gaffe in which new construction in eastern Jerusalem was announced during Biden’s visit.